Anglo-Futurism: Modernism vs Post-Modernism

This article is not an in-depth discussion into the ideologies of Modernism and Post-Modernism, but explores how AngloFuturism responds to them.

Modernism is the philosophy which provides the framework of our world today. All our presuppositions are based upon the concept of the scientific method, liberalism and individuality. It assumes objective reality exists and that we can comprehend it. All modern countries are affected by this idea.

Post-Modernism is a reaction to this. It challenges the assumption that we can know the objective underpinnings of reality. So in contrast, Post-Modernism leans into subjectivity, rejecting that even if objective reality is out there, it can’t be known. At the extremes, it even suggests we can create our own truths to replace objective reality.

So a core argument between Modernism and Post-Modernity is the question of whether we can measure or know objective reality.

A modernist would argue and prove their point by citing academic papers, statistics or use logical arguments. On the other hand, a post-modernist will argue from a position of assertion. This means that if they are disagreed with, they will restate their belief ad infinitum until it is accepted. The post-modernists may appeal to power or legal structures to back up their assertions, but will feel they do not need to offer any objective evidence. As, in their framework, objective evidence does not exist.

A good way to describe the difference is that a modernist will say, ‘I was born this way’ and a post-modernist would say, ‘I identify this way’.

AngloFuturism is an ideology which looks to the future, but is also steeped in the pre-Modern world. Much of the development of the philosophies surrounding subjectivity and objectivity were fleshed out on the cusp of the Modern period and onwards.

Our Western modern world is in the grip of the disagreement between Modernism and Post-Modernism. It is stuck between these poles. But due to its pre-Modern roots, could AngloFuturism provide a way forward?

To the medieval mind, God was both knowable and unknowable. They couldn’t engage with the essence or objective reality of God, but could experience Him in their own subjective experience through His energies.

I am not suggesting our culture returns to a belief in the Christian God, but I do think this could provide a good philosophical framework. One which could help bring us out of this impasse. We can accept that objective reality exists, but it can’t be fully known. We can only experience objective reality through our own subjective lens. And it will be different for everyone. We all experience the colour red in our own way, but red can be objectively measured.

Due to AngloFuturism’s connection with the pre-Modern world, it respects the tried and tested wisdom of the past. Whereas Modernity rejects this wisdom as outdated, preferring to rely on technical expertise and the Scientific Method, AngloFuturism recognises its necessity. And it is through this wisdom, we can help develop better models of the deeper, more complex and broadly hidden realities.

The Scientific Method is a useful tool to discover simple physical truths about the Universe. But any physical process with more than three or four factors or even a complex global systems is beyond its ability to fully comprehend.

Wisdom is the built-up collective knowledge of the experience of living in a relationship with objective reality. In the case of Anglo wisdom, it builds up through ancient Athens, Rome and the Christian church. This tradition lays out the effective way of interacting with reality in an Anglo setting. By rejecting wisdom, both Modernism and its rival Post-Modernism, miss out on this extensively tested knowledge of reality.

Post-Modernism is built upon very shallow foundations. It has no regard for the limits of objective reality. Some of its proponents sincerely believe they can create reality. Their faith is unshaken even in the face of facts. AngloFuturism has a very deep root, as described above. In comparison, post-modernism is a paper tiger and can only hold sway due to support from institutions. If these bodies begin to reject post-modernism, then it will collapse extremely quickly,

We need a new paradigm to deal with the extreme natures of Modernism and Post-Modernism. Otherwise, they will lead us towards a dark technological future.

AngloFuturism, on the other hand, gracefully receives the knowledge of the ancient past and encourages its use by people, rulers, communities and nations. This will free us from the all encompassing arguments between the frameworks of Modernism and Post-Modernism.

We are within the horns of this dilemma and the answer is to climb off the bull using AngloFuturism.